Nautical indicating device.



O. L. BURDETT.

NAUTICAL INDIGATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19,1912.

Patented July 15, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

O. L. BURDETT. NAUTICAL INDIGATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19,1912.

1,06%71 6 Patented July 15, 1913.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

OFFICE.

ownn'n. trauma, or nur'rano, NEW YORK.

nau'rrcat rnnroa'rr'ne neuron.

anemic.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 15, 1913.

1 Application filed January 19, 1912. Serial No. 672,056.

' citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nautical Indicating Devices, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

This invention relates to an instrument for the determination of the latitude or longitude of any given point on the earths surface, and its object is to provide an instrument of this character which obviates the necessity of taking an observation on any heavenly body and by means of which the latitude and longitude can be determined.

from a direct reading of theinstrument regardless of time er the state of the Weather.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nautical indicating device embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections taken at right angles to each other through the gyroscope and related. parts of the device. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the base of the instrument. Figs. 5 and 6 are views indicating the methods of use for determining latitude and longitude.

Referring to the drawings, A is a gyroscope, comprising an electric motor, having the ends of its axis A journaled at B and C in the horizontal metal ring D, which in turn may revolve about an axis D, supported by the standards F and G.

H is a magnet supported by the standards F and G, and holding a vertical ringer circle I graduated to 1} degrees and read by Vernier at J to minutes. The magnet H is the field magnet for the motor, of which the revolving gyroscope is the armature. The standards F and G- are carried by a compass comprising a body' K on which are two spirit levels L and M, the compass needle N, and the compass card or circle 0 graduated to 4 degrees. The body K has a vertical axis P, slightly conical and revolving in a support R, and also a shoulder Q turning on roller bearings Q, as shown. The support R is provided with a flange 13 and is carried by leveling screws U which seat in socketsV, on a 'metal box or base W, which rests in a mercury bed W. The

axis BC, the plane of the face of ring I upon which are placed the graduations, and the north and south points of the compass circle 0 are all in the same plane.

X and X are electric feed and return wires connected at the bearing points B and C with the ends of the axis A.

The operation of the instrument for latitude depends upon the fact that the tangent to a meridian at any point on the earths surface makes an angle with the tangent to the same meridian at the equator equal to the latitude of the point. This is shown in Fig. 5.

Let ABCD be elevation of earth, and also the meridian through F, a point on the earths surface. FH=rad. through F. Flztang. "through F. DBzequator or diam. in plane of meridian. EDzt-ang. to meridian through F at equator. Required to show that the angle EJI latitude of point F. A

Now angle FHD latitude of point F. arallel to ED, then angle EJTzGFT, ut angle GFlzangle FHD because sides of one are perpendicular to sides of other, therefore angle EJT- angle F HD and angle EJI: latitude of point F.

The axis of thegyroscope A is always pointing in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the earths equator, that is, parallel to the tangents at the equator to all the meridians. The direction of the tangent to'the meridian at any point occupied on the earths surface is determined when the instrument is leveled; consequently, if the ring I is graduated into four quadrants, 0 to 90; 90 to 0; 0 to 90 and 90 to 0, and the instrument is so constructed that a line from 0 to 0 is a level line when the instrument is leveled, we have the direction of the tangent to the meridian at the point occupied, and the angle between that tangent and the axis of the gyroscope can be read directly on graduated ring I. This angle is the latitude of the point.

The method of use is as follows: Beforeleaving a port, the axis of the gyroscope A. would be pointed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the earths equator. This is done by setting 0E magnetic deflection on compass circle and latitude of port on scale I with O of Vernier J. (The magnetic deflection of various ports as well as their latitudes are already known). The gyroscope is then set in motion by an electric current, the current entering from the wire X, passing through the ring D to B, through motor to C, and through ring D to D from which point it leaves the instrument through the wire X. Now as the instrument is taken away from or nearer to the equator, the axis of the gyroscope still remains perpendicular to the plane of the equator and parallel to the tangent to any meridian at the equator, but the direction of tangents to meridians at points occupied as determined by levels is always changingand this varying angle betweenthe two tangents is the angle measured, as has already been shown. At the equator a level line pointing north is perpendicular to the plane of earths equator and we would read 0 on scale or O latitude. Atthe oles a level line is parallel to plane of eart s equator and we would read 90 on scale or 90 latitude. Before reading the latitude, the axis of'the yroscope should 6. Let A be the pointfirst occupied and ABCFG be the meridian through A. At A easterly direction is perpendicular to plane of ABCFG or erpendicular to the plane of the figure. is the instrument is moved, the axisof the gyroscope, which has been pointed perpendicular to plane of meridian ABCFG, will remain continually in this direction. Suppose then that the instrument is moved to any point D on the earths surface and it is desired to find the lon itude of point D. The angle measured by t e instrument is equal to the arc CD also e ual to the angle between the tangents at points C and D drawn to the great circle which passes through points E and D, E being a point 90? from B, the north pole, and 90. from the meridian which passes through A. In spherical trian le BED side ED: 90'- arc CD (are C measured b inst.) Side BE=90. Side BD=CO"lat1tude of D as determined by instrument finding the latitude. Then where S=(BE+ED+BD).

In spherical triangle ADE side AE: 90. Side ED=90 arc CD. Angle AED=angle sin; S sin. (S-BD) c y Then cos. ALED cot. QAED tan. EAD ADE) and cos. AE ED sin; MAE ED) cot. QAED a... },(ADE;EAD)= From these two formulae, we obtain the values of angles EAD and ADE.

Substituting the value of angle EAD infollowing formula, we obtain value of side AD.

tan {angle ABD=V connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of use of the indicatorwill be apparent and it will be seen that the invention provides an indicator whereby the latitude and longitude of any given point may be determined from a direct reading ,of the instrument, regardless of time or the state of the weather, and without the necessin. DE sin. AED

AD= sin. EAD

In spherical triangle ABD we know values of sides AB, BD and DA. Then sin. (S-AB) sin. (S-BD) sin. s sin. (S-AD).

used for BED-Pang. BEA (BEA=colat-. of A sity of taking an observation from the sun i or other heavenly body, the advantages of which will be appreciated;

Having thus described the invention, what v for pivotal movement about a vertical axis-Y and provided with levels for indicating the angu arity thereof in two planes at right angles to each other, a gyroscope, aring p1votally supported by the com ass to tilt 'upon 7 a horizontal axis and in w ich the axis of said gyroscope is journaled, a Vernier carried by said ring, and a vertically supported ring provided with grad'uations for cooperation with the Vernier, said ring and the gyroscope axis being arranged in the same vertical plane and in the plane of the north and south points of the compass circle.

2. A nautical indicating device comprising a compass, pivoted for movement about a vertical axis, a gyroscope having its axis arranged in the diametrical plane of the north and south points of the compass circle, a ring pivotally mounted upon the compass to tilt upon a horizontal axis and in which the axis of the gyroscope is journaled, and a vertical ring supported in a fixed position upon the compass and in the plane of the axis of the gyroscope, said rings being provided with cooperating angle indicating scales.

. 3. A nautical indicating device comprising a compass pivoted for movement about a vertical axis and provided with levels for indicating the angularity thereof in two planes at right angles to each other, an indicating ring pivotally supported by the compass to tilt upon a horizontal axis, a.member journaled on said ring and adapted through the pivotal mounting of the com-.. pass and ring for adjustment to set its axis parallel with the earths axis and operative to maintain itself in such position in the course of travel of the vessel, and a vertical indicating ring adjustable with relation to the compass and first named indicating ring in the course of travel of the vessel.

4. A nautical indicating device comprisinga compass pivoted for movement about a vertical axis and provided with levels for indicating ,the angularity thereof in two planes at right angles to each other, an indicating ring pivota ly supported by the compass to tilt upon a horizontal axis, a gyroscope member journaled on said ring and forming the armature of an electric motor, said member being adapted through the pivotal mounting of the compass and ring for adjustment toset itsaxis parallel with the earths axis, and operative to maintain itself in such position in the course of travelof the vessel, aavertical indicating ring adjust- 'able with relation to the compass and first named ringin the course of travel of the vessel, and a magnet supporting said vertical ring and constituting the field magnet-of said motor. a

5. A nautical indicating device comprismg a fluid supported base, a compass supported by said base for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and provided with levels, an indicating ring pivotally supported by the compass to tilt upon a horizontal axis, a member journaled on said ring and adapted through the pivotal mounting of: the compass and ring for adjustment to set its axis parallel with the earths axis, and operative-to maintain itself in such position in the course of travel of the vessel, and a vertical indicating ring adjustable with relation to the compass and first named indicating ring in the course of travel of the vessel.

6. A nautical indicating device comprising a fluid supported base, a compass supported by said base for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and provided with levels, an indicating ring pivotally supported by the compass to tilt upon a horizontal axis, a gyroscope member journaled on said ring and forming the armature of an electric motor, said member being adapted through the pivotal mounting of the cornpass and ring for adjustment to set its axis parallel with the earths axis, and operative to maintain itself in such position in the course of travel of the vessel, a vertical indicating ring adjustable with relation to the compass and first named indicating ring in the course of travel of the vessel, and a magnet supporting said vertical ring, and constituting the field magnet of said motor.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

OWEN L. BUBDETT. 

